England have announced their squad for the first Test series of the home summer against the West Indies and have made some bold selection calls in their 14-player group.
Two uncapped players have been selected for the series, while two who haven't played a Test match in over a year have been recalled. Coming off the back of the drawn Ashes series last summer and 3-1 loss in India over the winter and with James Anderson bowing out after the first Test of the upcoming series, it marks a new page turned over in the Stokes-McCullum era.
Smith overtakes Bairstow and Foakes
After years of on and off speculation and analysis of which of Jonny Bairstow or Ben Foakes should be England's first-choice keeper, the answer is neither. Jamie Smith has leapfrogged both to take the gloves at the start of the summer following success at Surrey in the first half of the season. While Smith has been on the radar for years for his quick scoring, innovative stroke-play and utility behind the stumps, it's still a coup for Smith to oust both incumbents. Bairstow's high score from 10 innings in India was 39, and he's coming off the back of a tricky T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. Foakes meanwhile has struggled for Surrey, and averages 31.71 this season.
The Foakes question won't die away, but England have gone with providing with both bat and ball over Foakes' superior keeping. But they've chosen a new face rather than Bairstow to do it. The other option they could have gone with is Ollie Robinson at Durham, who's currently second in the Division One run-scoring standings and has a strike rate of 86.45.
Bashir over Leach
Having won a surprise call-up to India off the back of limitted first-class cricket, Shoaib Bashir now finds himself England's first-choice Test spinner. While Jack Leach underwent knee surgery earlier this year, there's nothing to say he hasn't been left out on merit.
Bashir was pushed out on loan to Worcestershire last week in order to get some overs in with Leach back in for Somerset, another indication of the decreasing relevance county cricket has for at least the selection of England's spinners. He conceded 38 in an over to Dan Lawrence last week, another part of his first-class learning experience. But, like the decision to pick him over the winter, it's the something in him England's management can see that's prompted the investment, and that's now elevated him above Leach in the spin standings.
Robinson out
An incumbent in the side that left India, Ollie Robinson will not form part of England's bowling attack at the start of the summer. Rob Key made it clear on the direction he wanted to take England's bowling attack post Anderson's retirement, with pace prioritised over championship wickets. While that puts Robinson in a difficult position, he has been floated as the latest heir to Anderson's position over the last couple of years. Inconsistency and persistent fitness concerns, however, have taken their toll, and Robinson's out, with a new-look pace attack set to take over.
Quicks for the future
Two uncapped pacers and one who's played one Test in the last 22 months make up half the quick bowlers in the squad. Chris Woakes is back with the hope of him producing similar returns to last summer's Ashes, while Gus Atkinson once again comes in after carrying the drinks in India. Matthew Potts and Dillon Pennington have reaped the rewards of good starts to the county season, with Sam Cook set to come into the squad when he recovers from injury.
With several of the bowlers higher up the pecking-order injured or otherwise not available for selection, this isn't the exact first-choice group. But the type of bowlers who have been selected leave no doubt that Key has been true to his word on selecting the type of bowlers he might want to take to Australia in 18 months time.
Lawrence back
Fresh off 175 last week against Worcestershire, Lawrence's move to Surrey has been a success both in accentuating his spin credentials and bringing runs. Lawrence has been England's de-facto spare batter for a while, including in the India tour. Despite being named in the squad, it still feels like a tall order for him to break into it. Ollie Pope is set at three, with a middle order of Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Harry Brook. Unless England feel like they need his all-round credentials, or Pope's form becomes to problematic to justify, it looks a long shot for him to claim a space in the XI.
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